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November 27, 2012

Advanced Vocabulary Training

brume-298048.jpg
Brume

metonymy: figure of speech in which a concept is replaced by a related object (“the crown”)

synteresis: innate moral knowledge. In Christianity, the part of the soul connected with god

ecpyrosis: the periodic destruction and recreation of the universe (ancient Greek belief)

pother: a commotion, heated discussion, or suffocating cloud (as of dust or ash)

defalcation: misappropriation of property (or the property so misappropriated)

simoniacal: guilty of practicing simony (profiting from ecclesiastical matters)

ascesis: self-discipline, often for religious purposes (var. askesis)

chasuble: a Catholic, sleeveless liturgical garment

ydrad: the state of being dreaded (middle English)

furze: “any spiny shrub of the genus Ulex.” Gorse.

hebetude: lazy or lethargic in mind or affect

inanation: exhaustion; lack of vigor or spirit

jape: a joke or mockery (v./n.)

ambulant: itinerant or shifting

brume: mist or fog

-- Courtesy Coldewey's Curiosities

Posted by gerardvanderleun at November 27, 2012 2:05 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Quite useful, thanks.

Posted by: Peccable at November 27, 2012 2:42 PM

I actually knew "metonymy" from an old James Thurber story about a teacher of his who actually once taught such usage in grammar class.

Posted by: ed at November 27, 2012 3:19 PM

Great list: I got metonymy and jape, which I recall from Hamlet. Poor Yorick.

Posted by: estoy listo at November 27, 2012 6:32 PM

Such a gallimaufry is a mere bagatelle to the connoisseur of the cruciform puzzle.

Posted by: Rob De Witt at November 27, 2012 11:03 PM

Piffle.

Posted by: BillH at November 28, 2012 2:49 PM

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